According to a survey by Alzheimer’s association of America, as many as 5.3 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. This figure is expected to increase significantly as baby boomers reach the age of 65 and a larger proportion of people in our country grow older.

Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells and is the most common form of dementia, a general term that describes loss of memory and other mental functions involving thinking and recalling information. Alzheimer’s impairs memory, judgment, thinking, and behavior. It is a progressive illness that continues to develop and become worse over time. While there is currently no cure, medications are available to slow the progression of the disease.

Early-stage Alzheimer’s describes the onset of the disease. During this stage, problems with memory, thinking, and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor’s interview or medical tests. Individuals in the early stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of diagnosis, an individual may have progressed beyond the early stage since later stages are easier to recognize.

The term younger-onset refers to Alzheimer’s that occurs in people under age 65. Younger-onset individuals may be employed or have children still living at home, and they face different issues including ensuring financial security and helping children cope with the disease. Experts estimate that some 500,000 people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Caring for patients with Alzheimer’s is no easy task. One Alzheimer’s caregiver said in an interview that caring for someone with the disease is "…like a black cloud that follows you all the time because you know it’s going to get worse but you don’t know how you are going to deal with it."

The first step in caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease is acknowledging that you can’t deal with it alone. Being a caregiver is a tough job, and it can be particularly challenging when the person you are caring for has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

Try to educate yourself about this disease. Learn everything you can about the disease, treatment options, disease progression, legal and financial concerns, and resources in your area. Finding a professional caregiver to support you and your loved one is crucial as the disease progresses.

An Alzheimer’s caregiver is a special kind of person. This work requires a great deal of skill, knowledge, sensitivity, compassion, empathy, and patience. A good sense of humor doesn’t hurt either! Asking potential caregivers the right interview questions will ensure that you find a good match for both you and your loved one. A few questions you may consider asking may be related to the caregiver’s experience with Alzheimer’s patients, the biggest challenge the caregiver has ever faced, and why he or she has decided to work with this population. The answers to these questions can help you find the right caregiver. For more resources, log on to http://www.TheCaringSpace.com.